Park Runs: Children - Why?

[Knowillbeflamed]

There’s a park run every Sunday near me. They jog along the pavement by the seafront taking the whole damn thing up so no one else can even walk along it.

Honestly, I don’t get running. But, what I understand even less is dragging young children along?! Yes, the older one’s (10+) seem to enjoy it but there’s at least 5x more that seem wayyyy to young - toddlers, very young kids - who hate it. They’re dragged along by their parents, literally kicking and screaming and crying.

AIBU to think if your kid hates running that much or patently doesn’t want to be there, that you do NOT force it on them?! Just because you like running doesn’t mean you force it on them. Find them an activity they enjoy.

PS. Yes I am annoyed by the sheer ignorance of 100+ people taking up that much space and forcing others to dive out the way - but mostly it’s the shrill screams of toddlers being forced to run that drives me bonkers. Someone will pop up and say ‘they love it,’ but I’m sorry - kids screaming ‘it hurts’ ‘I don’t want to’ whilst their parents drag them along by their wrist just angers me. And it’s not one parent one week - it’s multiple different parents on various weeks.

The only reason I'd ever run is if I was being chased by something that wanted to kill me, and even then it'd be a toss up between running and accepting death.

However I understand why other, more insane people choose to do it, yes even with their child/ren. I just don't go to the places they engage in their unnerving behaviour while they're doing it. You can make that choice too!

Just a reminder that Park Run is free, for many families horseriding is very much beyond their reach, as is swimming for some.
Think of it like that and be a bit kinder.

Oh and alongside the “running mum” have you come across the “football dad”? Those parents who yell at their kids at football matches because they’re apparently not premiership striker potential

There are parents who cross the line in terms of taking the “encouragement “ too far for certain activities. Not sure why anyone would think that running is the only example
of this. I suppose because it’s just because it takes place in public places.

With far too many fat parents who are creating fat children by allowing them to copy their sedate lifestyle with too much processed junk, I think it's brilliant to see families who are making exercise as part of their routine.

I think they should bring back the one mile run a day in primary schools too. I think some still do this!

Yeah where am i supposed to keep a horse??

Kicking a football around a park is free. Going for nice walks is free.

Sorry but this idea that everyone at Park Run can’t afford activities for their kids is just bonkers. Maybe some can’t, but most probably can - particularly where I live 😂

Sounds like you once saw a kid crying at Parkrun and so are using this as an excuse to slag off Parkrun because you clearly don't like it.

I used to take my dd every week then she joined a junior athletics club which she left after a couple of years becaise it was too serious. Every now and then she will come to parkrun with me on a saturday but no pressure. I have never told her she has to run - l don't care if she walks, skips or hops it, just happy she has had some fresh air.
I have said to her save your energy for running if she talks too mich but that's mostly because l can't talk and run!!

So what exactly do you want OP? Do you want Parkrun banned?

I agree with you OP. I don't think parents should take little children if they are complaining that it's hurting etc. When schools do the "daily mile" , children can choose to walk instead of run the whole time. During the park run children cant obviously choose to walk if they wanted bc they have to keep up with their parents who are running. It feels a bit like bullying if you are forcing a little child to run and keep up with you, if they are complaining that it hurts. I would report it to the organisers. Take a 4-5 year old to a good playground for an hour or longer and they'll get all the exercise that they need for their age.

What an ignorant, blinkered, entitled post. Children actually learning to be resilient, to not melt at the first hurdle and give up when something hurts. Have you bothered to hang around at the finish line and see the smiles of pride and positive self-satisfaction that swathe these kids' faces when they realise 'I've done it'? As for the absurd expectation to have the seafront to yourself every hour of the day, that's the embodiment of entitlement.
You couldn't be more unreasonable.

Lots of schools do still do the Daily Mile. Going by this thread, there will be parents that withdraw their kids from this whole-school activity because they say they don’t want to.

YABU. It's great that they are outside and being active, instead of glued to screens inside.

Dog walking and horse riding 😂😂😂
Not exactly the same as running!

Teaching kids to participate in a) actual exercise and b) having to do things they don’t like are valuable lessons.
The parents probably spent all Saturday morning at swimming lessons, or otherwise doing something the kids enjoy more.

My usual encouragement with my 6 year old is "bet you can't beat me to that bin, marshall, come...".

I did have one time I had to disagree with my child - we were doing parkrun, 2 laps and she was happy set off on lap 2. At the furthest point of lap 2 (car parked by start/finish) she decided she was done and started sulking. At this point I explained that unless sleeping in the park with no food was something she wanted to do, then finishing the lap (back to the car) was very definitely the only choice. After we got over said sulk, back to sweetness and light and I got out sprinted at the end (as usual!)

Mine love doing a junior park run! They are generally at 9.30 and a great way to get up and out of the house and moving. It's also free, and has a nice community of other families.

I have to say that I do sometimes bring both kids and one is less enthusiastic than the other. It's not the end of the world. I'd rather than one child sit it out with me than all be sitting at home still in our pyjamas watching cartoons...

Everyone to have a horse I think 😂

Junior parkrun is 2k. Just over a mile. Most kids should be able to run it without it being a big deal. Any form of getting fit involves some discomfort- it’s something you need to teach kids to deal with otherwise they’ll sit on the sofa for life.
No wonder we’re the lard-arses of Europe if British adults see children running as an inconvenience to them.

Nailed it.

Wow, not our experience or junior park run! We’ve been doing it for two years and it’s a generally happy experience, maybe occasionally there is a kid crying but I’ve not seen any child made to do it, they’ve all wanted to participate! The marshals are great at cheering the kids along.

I agree with you, OP. I can't imagine a 4 year old who would choose to do this as their weekend activity. I'm sure most would rather be at the park on bikes, or dancing, swimming etc. Great for the older ones who enjoy the challenge of it.

I am a big parkrun fan - every Saturday like clockwork.

I've volunteered at juniors. I don't like it tbh. I see exactly what the OP sees. The difference between a 4yo & 14 is massive.

I've also had horrible parents being shitty to me when they didn't have their barcode or when I needed to check who had gone through the funnel.

Sometimes these things bring out the worst in parents

God what a miserable attitude

Children can walk, skip, hop parkrun and at juniors don't have to stay with their parents. Just saying...

At 4 and 5 mine both liked the sprint and stop school of running, older one is 9 and a lot more consistent now, actually enjoys running, but still complains so much about actually getting out of the door.

Her best is around 9 minutes for the 2k, I'm not even close to keeping up!

I volunteer at JPR and you do get the odd parent like this (as you do in most junior sports to be honest). Our Run Director keeps an eye out for over the line behaviour.

You do get kids whinging and crying because they go off too fast and are then knackered. 2k is not to be sniffed at for a 4 year old or an unfit older child, but there is no shame in walking. What you do see after volunteering week after week is children with growing confidence and resilience. I have a child with a disability and loads of energy who has at time been a bit of a whinger, but now the weeks we don't go he gets upset.